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Revelstoke locals had been exploring the surrounding hills since they first put skis on in the early 1890's. The first recorded ski ascent and descent of Mt. Revelstoke was made by Rose Haggen and Cecil Atkins on March 10, 1914. The summit had been climbed a month earlier by two different groups on snowshoes. In her letter to the editor of the Mail Herald, Rose Haggen mentioned the "wonderfully good runs on the way down."

In May 1915, a summer ski jumping and "running" tournament was held on the summit of Mt. Revelstoke. 1915 saw the first Winter Carnival in town and the enthusiastic skiers (including Sigurd Halvorsen, president of the Revelstoke Ski Club and Nels Nelsen) wanted to extend the season and created a tournament at the summit. The skiers departed Sunday evening and made it to the chalet by 10:00 pm. The following morning they held an impromptu competition with jumps of up to 81 feet. The following week saw another informal competition at the summit, with spectators heading up the mountain on snowshoes and skis to watch.

Emma Roberts was an avid outdoorswoman who loved to explore on skis in the winter and by hiking in the summer, taking photographs of places visited. One of her most documented locales was the top of Mt. Revelstoke, where people had been visiting since the Balsam Lake Chalet had first been built in 1909. Ski parties from town would head up the mountain and spend a night or two or more in the cabin and skiing the summit.

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On the way to the Chalet
1920
Revelstoke, British Columbia

Credits:
Revelstoke Museum and Archives

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The entrance to the Chalet
1920
Mount Revelstoke, Revelstoke, British Columbia

Credits:
Revelstoke Museum and Archives

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Ski Party on the roof of the Chalet
1920
Mount Revelstoke, Revelstoke, British Columbia

Credits:
Revelstoke Museum and Archives

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Emma Roberts and daughters skiing, (Mt. Begbie behind)
1919
Revelstoke, British Columbia

Credits:
Revelstoke Museum and Archives

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Mt. Begbie (elevation 8963 feet) is Revelstoke's "signature peak," seen from all aspects in town with its magnificent double summit and extensive north-facing glacier. The first ski ascent was accomplished by Bob Lymburne in May 1932. Bob departed at 4:00 am, setting "a very fast pace," reaching the toe of the glacier by 8:00 am. He skied up the glacier, stopping for his typical lunch of raw eggs, oranges and raisins which, in his opinion, "forms the most satisfactory lunch for strenuous exercise." The ski descent was comprised of "wild, swift rides down the mountain side," a descent of over 7000 feet, and he was back in Revelstoke by 6:00 pm.

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With Canada's involvement in World War II, there were far fewer competitions and tournaments held in Revelstoke. However, the townspeople were still very keen to get out on skis and enjoy the winter pastime. Friday night "ski runs" were led through town, generally starting at City Hall and touring for a few hours, ending at the YMCA or the Golf Club house where everyone could enjoy hot chocolate. Locals started exploring their own backyard of Mt. Revelstoke and groups of ski club members would climb the Lindmark Trail every weekend to ski on the summit of Mt. Revelstoke.

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Paul Salva on starting skiing in Revelstoke
1940's
Revelstoke, British Columbia

Credits:
Paul Salva

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Skins mounted on skis
1930's (?)
Revelstoke, British Columbia

Credits:
Revelstoke Museum and Archives

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Balsam Lake Cabin on Mt. Revelstoke
late 1930's
Mount Revelstoke, Revelstoke, British Columbia

Credits:
Barbara Vigue

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The McCrae brothers: Don, Alex and Bill were active skiers and discovered the joys of skiing on the top of Mt. Revelstoke in the mid to late 1930's. They would lead groups of energetic skiers for the weekends to explore the beauty of the summit. Initially they stayed in the Balsam Lake Cabin, otherwise known as the "chalet," but they found accommodation here to be a bit cramped which led Craig Rutherford to pursue the idea of building a lodge on the summit of Mt. Revelstoke.

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Don, Alex and Bill McCrae
late 1930's
Revelstoke, British Columbia

Credits:
Barbara Vigue

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Craig Rutherford, energetic president of the Revelstoke Ski Club
1940
Revelstoke, British Columbia

Credits:
Revelstoke Museum and Archives

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Craig was the energetic president of the Revelstoke Ski Club and was often the main organizer or committee chairman for the ski tournaments. In 1938 Craig approached Parks Canada about building a lodge on the summit of Mt. Revelstoke. Parks agreed but stipulated that the structure needed to be more than just a rustic cabin. Craig purchased the old Three Valley Hotel, dismantled it and salvaged the wood. The wood was transported to the top of Mt. Revelstoke and a beautiful lodge was constructed, named "Heather Lodge" by Don McCrae as it was surrounded by stunning, heather meadows. Don McCrae managed the lodge and it became a favorite weekend outing for many in the Revelstoke Ski Club and became popular with visitors as well. It was a beautiful log structure with 10 bedrooms and complete with prepared meals. It took most people just 3 or 3-1/2 hours to ascend the trail to the top. Some would stay for the day, but many would stay for the weekend or longer. They would ski "daylight to dark" then play ping pong and cards at night in the lodge.